In the west shortly after sunset around now, you’ll find a famous asterism – a noticeable pattern of stars, not a constellation – known as the Summer Triangle.
Moon and Venus night after Christmas, all five planets visible
The Triangle consists of three bright stars in three different constellations. They are Vega in the constellation Lyra the Harp, Deneb in the constellation Cygnus the Swan, and Altair in the constellation Aquila the Eagle. It’s called the “summer” triangle, because – for us in the northern hemisphere – summer is the season in which these stars soar overhead.
Still, if you look for this pattern this month, you’ll find that, around the time of the winter solstice, the Summer Triangle is descending in the west in early evening. It’s getting closer each evening to disappearing into the sunset glare.
How long into winter will you be able to see the Summer Triangle in your evening sky?
Will it be visible in Florida?
I enjoy hearing E & S on FM radio WUMB Boston. I don’t hear it every day. Can I subscribe to a written, daily broadcast, and/or a voice podcast. How can I get a repeat of Dec. 23, 2011 and the North Pole moving north @ 40 miles per year?
Merry Christmas to you all.
KCJ
Seeing Venus in oklahoma tonight :)
Just got a nice telescope for xmas, looking for planets from J-ville,FL.
hello, south florida but away from the coast now, closer to everglades, but awesome sky tonight, thought i almost saw santa!!! two light trails after looking at the planets and close stars…. thank you for your wonderful page
I also LOVE your info, thank YOU ALL!!!!!
What is a star?